Literature and Music

Like literature I believe music "speaks" to the listener. Music has a profound way of evoking the listeners emotions just as literature does. Music often tells a story sometimes with words - sometimes without. When I saw this violinist serenely strumming his instrument on the streets of Las Vegas, I could not help but stop and see if his music told a story. I did not recognize the song, but what I did realize was that his music carried meaning for him. His facial expression was one of solemnity and grace. How he felt about the music was unclear. What I did perceive from his stature was that this was the way he made his living. Perhaps his song told the story of his life catering to those that love music. Listening to the soft and beautiful sounds of the violin induced memories of a sad time in my life and carried for me, an entirely different meaning. The music told a different story.

In this way music and language arts are delicately intertwined in the sense that the person who receives the message is the one who interprets its meaning. The artist (author, poet, musician etc) often cannot control how their message is perceived. That is part of the beauty and adventure of reading a great work of literature or listening to a breathtaking piece of music. Individual interpretation is key to the experience.

Los chiles

Los chiles--chili peppers. Who knew there were so many kinds? You can learn the general term in Spanish, but then there are all the varieties: mulato, guajillo, chipotle, japones, pasilla...In this case, well-rounded literacy is achieved when the student of Spanish knows not only their names, but also when and how to cook with them.

These chili peppers tell another story as well. Did I go to a specialty shop to find all these chilis? I may have had to twenty years ago, but yesterday I found them at Cub Foods in West Saint Paul. They also had rows and rows of imported salsas and Mexican pastries, and the aisle signs were in both Spanish and English. There were not many people shopping at that hour, but the evidence was clear that this particular grocery store reaches out and caters to a Latino clientele that is significant in size. Literacy in Spanish means not only studying the foreign countries where Spanish is spoken, but also being aware of the Hispanic presence and influence in our midst.

Finally, there is the literacy involved in deciphering the packaging. The label colors are the same as the Mexican flag, and the brand name is "Lindo y Querido," or"Beautiful and Dear," which evokes not only these vibrant chilis, but also the Mexican homeland. As anyone who has lived abroad knows, seeing something that reminds you of home is comforting. For a Mexican living in Minnesota, finding "Lindo y Querido" chilis at the local Cub Foods might make those long, cold winter nights a little more bearable.

Another Brick In the Wall...

I have wanted to take a picture of this sign for so many months, but I just never got around to it. Now, thanks to this assignment it all has come full circle and made sense. I mean how true is the statement? And by being graffiti it demands to be viewed in a way. This artist won't be held back or bound by conventions and gallery showings, but is breaking free of boundaries.

Cookbooks Can Be Difficult To Read

I love to read cookbooks. It's a hobby I inherited from my mother, and she from hers. If I close my eyes and think about my mom my first thought is of her sitting in the living room on a sunny morning with a cup of coffee in hand and a cookbook on her lap.

Cookbooks are fun to read because they provide inspiration. I like to spend a Sunday morning thinking about what I'm going to cook for dinner that evening. Does that seem strange? Well, it shouldn't. After all, don't other artists often use books to find their inspiration?

Like other texts, cookbooks are not all created equal. First of all, some don't have pictures. This, I find ridiculous. Every good cook knows that we eat with our eyes first. As an avid reader, I am accustomed to using my imagination, but for me, a cookbook without pictures just will not do. Second, the language used often varies. For example, in the picture above you will see one of my favorite domestic goddesses, Nigella Lawson, stirring cabbage into a pot. Nigella employs a relaxed voice in her writings. She advises readers to, "put the oil in a pan with the garlic and anchovies and cook over a low heat until you have a melted, muddy mess." Or, "cook the salmon over medium-high heat until just cooked through, and remove them to warmed plates while you get on with the vegetables." To me these directions are understandable. After reading, I would get out my non-stick, put in a teaspoon or so of oil and cook the salmon on each side for about five minutes. I would then use an oven-mit to remove the plate that I had previously put in a 200 degree oven (because I read ahead, of course) and, using a rubber, not metal spatula, place the salmon on it. Is that what you would do? Is that what your dad would do? How about your average fifteen year old?

Nigella knows her audience. She is aware that if you purchased her book, you've probably been cooking for a while. That, or you don't ever plan on cooking, but enjoy her writing style. Even though her directions are very straight-forward, they are not thorough. Thus, they are not written for beginners.

Additionally, cookbooks use other language that may be confusing for newbies. For example, do you know the difference between a dice, a chop, and a slice? How about a cup of almonds, chopped, versus a cup of chopped almonds? There is a difference, and not knowing it could seriously alter a recipe.

My point is, like the textbooks we've been analyzing, cookbook writers don't all use the same language. Like in our content areas, there is universal language that cooks should learn before diving into a recipe. However, the way this vocabulary is presented and used is going to be different with all authors.

In conclusion, when shopping for cookbooks (textbooks), cooks (teachers) should search for books with tantalizing pictures (good visuals that accompany learning), and language that makes sense to the reader.